Self-priming pump system with external actuating means



March 25, 1969 BERMAN ETAL 3,434,430

SELF-PRIMING PUMP SYSTEM WITH EXTERNAL ACTUATING MEANS Filed April 18.1967 Sheet I of 5 MERRIL BERMAN JQHN SLAUGHTER INVENTORS March 25, 1969M. BERMAN ETAL 3,

SELF-PRIMING PUMP SYST'EM'WITH EXTERNAL ACTUATING MEANS Filed April 18.1967 v I Sheet of 5 I MERRIL BERMAN JQHN SLAUGHTER INVENTORS BY r March25, 1969 M. BERMAN ETAL SELF-PRIMING PUMP SYSTEM WITH EXTERNALACTUA'IING MEANS Filed A pril 18, 1967 Sheet 3 015 INVENTORS BY SMJALMMarch 25, 1969 M. BERMAN ETAL SELF-PRIMING PUMP SYSTEM WITH EXTERNALACTUATING MEANS Filed April 18. 1967 Sheet 4 of5 MERRIL BERMAN JOHNSLAUGHTER INVENTORS BY W March 1969 M. BERMAN ETAL 3, 3

SELF-PRIMING PUMP SYSTEM WITH EXTERNAL ACTUATING MEANS Filed April 18,1967 Sheet 5 of s FIG.7

MERRIL BERMAN JOHN SLAUGHTER INVENTORS 3,434,430 SELF-PRIMING PUMPSYSTEM WITH EXTERNAL ACTUATING MEANS Merril Berman and John Slaughter,Denver, Colo., as-

signors to Worthington Corporation, Harrison, N.J., a

corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 18, 1967, Ser. No. 631,672 Int. Cl.F0411 9/02 US. Cl. 103113 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention resides in the classof devices which are adapted for priming centrifugal pumps preliminaryto starting or for maintaining such pumps in a primed condition duringoperation, and includes systems associated with the pump for filling thepump chamber with liquid and for removing air or noncondensable vaporfrom such chamber.

Installations using centrifugal pumps to lift liquids through a suctionline from storage tanks have always been faced with the problem ofmaintaining the prime of the pump, as the level of the liquid in thestorage tank drops. When large quantities of air or uncondensed vaporare drawn into the pump, as often happens when the level of the liquidin the storage tanks is low, the pump loses its prime and can no longerproduce the suction necessary to draw liquid through the suction linefrom the tank to the inlet of the pump. The pump must then be reprimedbefore further pumping operations can be carried on.

This repriming requirement for centrifugal pumps seriously limits theetfectivenessof these pumps where it necessary to empty fairly largestorage tanks from above. The centrifugal pumps cannot efficiently emptythe bottom sections of these tanks because of the frequent delaysrequired to reprime the pumps and, therefore, it has been necessary toequip many of these storage tanks with separate small pumps known asstripping pumps to empty the bottom sections of the tanks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes these problemsby providing self-priming apparatus for centrifugal pumping systemswherein a bypass communicates an accumulation of pump discharge with thesuction well of the pump. A repriming valve associated with the bypassis disposed remotely from the pump discharge and controls the flow ofrepriming liquid. The repriming valve may be actuated manually from apoint remote from the pumping system or automatically by any pumpingparameter such as the level of liquid in the suction well of the pump,or the static or dynamic pressure of the liquid at any point of thepumping system.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provideself-priming apparatus for a centrifugal pumping system.

It is a further object of this invention to provide selfprimingapparatus for a centrifugal pump which utilizes States Patent pumpdischarge to reprime the pump and to drive gases and uncondensed vaporfrom the suction well of the pump into the discharge system.

It is another object of this invention to provide selfpriming apparatusfor a pumping system which produces a minimum of interference in thenormal openations of the pumping system.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide selfprimingapparatus for a pumping system which is easily accessible during pumpingoperations.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a self-primingpumping system readily adaptable to varying pumping requirements.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a simplifiedrepriming valve adapted for use in self-priming pumping systems.

Still, another object of this invention is to provide selfprimingapparatus for a pumping system which may be actuated by predeterminedconditions occurring at a point in the pumping system remote from thelocation of the self'priming apparatus.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a self-primingapparatus for a pumping system which may be manually controlled from apoint remote from the pumping system.

Still, a further object of this invention is to provide apparatus forself-priming pumping systems which can be actuated at any point in thepumping cycle by any predetermined pumping parameter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 shows a side elevation, inpartial section, of a self-priming, vertical, centrifugal pumping systemin accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 shows a side elevation in partial section of a repriming valvefor use in the self-priming pumping system shown in FIGURE 1 withalternate pressure means indicated in phantomized form.

FIGURE 3 shows a side elevation in partial section of another reprimingvalve for use in a self-priming pumping system shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 shows a side elevation, in partial section, of anotherself-priming, vertical, centrifugal pumping system in accordance withthe teachings of the present invention.

FIGURE 5 shows a side elevation, in partial section, of still anotherself-priming, vertical, centrifugal pumping system in accordance withthe teachings of the present invention.

FIGURE 6 shows a side elevation, in partial section of yet anotherself-priming, vertical, centrifugal pumping system in accordance withthe teachings of the present invention.

FIGURE 7 shows a self-priming, non-vertical, centrifugal pumping systemin accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGURE 1 shows a vertical,centrifugal pumping system generally indicated at 10 having a multistagecentrifugal pump generally indicated at 12 enclosed in a suction well14. A motor 16 in a motor housing 18 powers the centrifugal pump bymeans of a drive shaft 20 extending from motor housing 18 though anaccumulating chamber 22 (to be more fully described hereinafter) tosuction well 14.

Centrifugal pump 12 is mounted in suction well 14 from a discharge pipe24 which is bolted to the bottom wall 26 of accumulating chamber 22 bymeans of a flange 28 on the end of the discharge pipe. The centrifugalpump has a suction inlet 30 connected in the conventional manner to thefirst pumping stage 32 of three series connected pumping stages 32, 34,and 36 designating, re-

spectively, the first or inlet pumping stage, the second or intermediatepumping stage, and the third or discharge pumping stage. Third pumpingstage 36 is connected to the bottom of discharge pipe 24 by means offlanges 38 and 40 on the discharge pipe and pumping stage, respectively.

Suction well 14 has an inlet port 42 above the level of the firstpumping stage impeller 44. The suction well below the level of the inletport defines a storage chamber 46 for fluid to be pumped. Suction inlet30 of first pumping stage 32 is in communication with storage chamber 46and during normal pumping conditions the storage chamber is filled withliquid to be pumped to prevent air from entering the suction inlet ofthe pump which would cause the pump to lose its prime.

Accumulating chamber 22 is mounted on top of suction well 14 by means offlanges 48 and 50, respectively, on the bottom wall 26 of theaccumulating chamber and the upper end of the suction well. An inlet 52is located in bottom wall 26 of the accumulating chamber to receiveliquid from discharge pipe 24, and a large discharge port 54 is locatednear the upper wall 55 of the accumulating chamber through which theliquid pumped is discharged during normal pumping conditions.

A discharge check valve 56 is connected to the discharge port of theaccumulating chamber by means of an elbow 58 to prevent liquiddischarged from accumulating chamber 22 from backflowing into thechamber. Elbow 58 is connected at one end to the discharge port 54 bymeans of flanges 60 and 62 on the discharge port and the elbow,respectively, and is connected at the other end to check valve 56 bymeans of flanges 64 and 66 on the elbow and check valve, respectively.

A gas bleed conduit 68 leads from the top of suction well .14 to elbow58 to communicate the suction well with the accumulating chamber. Thoughshown as connected to elbow 58, gas bleed conduit 68 could be connectedto any point which communicates with the accumulating chamber. A checkvalve 70 is disposed in gas bleed conduit 68 to prevent backflow offluid from the accumulating chamber to the suction well through the gasbleed conduit.

A bypass conduit 72 is connected to suction well 14 and the bottom ofaccumulating chamber 22 providing a pathway for liquid from theaccumulating chamber to quickly reach the suction well 14 to reprime thepump when normal pumping operation ceases, as is hereinafter described.A repriming valve 74 is disposed in bypass conduit 72 to control theflow of repriming liquid from accumulating chamber 22 to suction well 14of the pump. The valve can be actuated automatically, in response to therequirements of the pumping system, or manually from a remote position.

Repn'ming valve As shown in FIGURE 2 repriming valve 74 has a valve body80 with a generally cylindrical housing 82 formed on the top thereof.The valve body has an inlet 76 and inlet bore 77, and an outlet 78 andoutlet bore 79.

The repriming valve is connected at the inlet thereof to the bypassconduit by flanges 84 and 86, respectively, on inlet 76 and bypassconduit 72. The valve body is secured at the outlet thereof to a flange88 on bypass conduit 72 by a plurality of bolts 90.

Flange 88 has a raised shoulder 92 which is narrower than the bottomsurface of valve body 80, therefore, a lip 94 is left protruding fromthe valve body above the flange of the bypass conduit. A cylindricalvalve seat 96 having a seating surface 98 on the upper portion thereofis mounted in valve body 80 by means of a shoulder 100 on the bottom endof the valve seat which seats between lip 94 of the valve body andflange 88 of the bypass conduit.

Cylindrical housing 82 on valve body 80 has a head 102 which is boltedto the Wall of the housing by a plurality of bolts 104. The bottom wall105 of housing 82 has a passage 106 therein leading to inlet bore 77 ofthe valve body proximate valve seat 96. A tubular valve element 108having a seating surface 110 on the lower end thereof is mounted inhousing 82 with seating surface 1.10 extending through passage 106 tooperatively associate with valve seat 96. An O-ring 107 is mounted in agroove 109 in passage 106 and coacts with tubular valve element 108 toseal valve body 80 from cylindrical housing 82.

The upper end of valve element 108 is formed into a piston 112. Thepiston has an upper surface 114 and two lower surfaces, an annularsurface 116 between the outer wall of the tubular element and the innerwall of housing 82, and a circular surface 118 closing the upper end ofthe tubular section. An O-ring 122 is mounted in a groove 124 in thecircumference of the piston to seal the upper surface 114 from the lowerannular surface 116 of the piston. The upper surface 114 of the piston112 coacts with the bottom surface of cover 102 to form a compressionchamber 126 above the piston even when the piston is in the upwardmostposition.

Four forces act on piston 112 to position the piston and consequently toposition valve element 108. The pressure in compression chamber 126urges the piston downward, and three forces urge the piston upward. Aspring surrounds the outer surface of the tubular valve element and isin contact with bottom wall 105 of housing 82 and the lower annularsurface of the piston to bias the piston in the upwardmost position.Secondly, the pressure of the ambient atmosphere, communicated to theinside of housing 82 by a bleed passage 128 in the wall of the housing,exerts an upward force on annular surface 116. Thirdly, the pressure ofthe liquid in inlet bore 77 is communicated to the circular surface 118on the bottom of the piston and exerts an upward force.

The pressure of the liquid in inlet bore 77 is also communicated tocompression chamber 126 by means of a passage 134 in the wall of housing82. Since surfaces 114 and 118 are acted upon by the same liquid and thearea of surface 114 is larger than that of surface 118, there will be aresultant downward force exerted on piston 112 by the liquid in inletbore 77. Repriming valve 74 will be set in the closed position when thisresultant downward force from the liquid is greater than the forcesexerted on piston 112 by spring 120 and the ambient atmosphere acting onsurface 116.

Other means can be used to pressurize compression chamber 126 to seatvalve element 108. As shown in the phantomized portion of FIGURE 2, apassage 130 in cover 102 is adapted to receive a pressure controlconduit 132 which introduces pressurized fluid into the compressionchamber, or can also bleed off pressurizing fluid from the compressionchamber. The pressure of the fluid in pressure control conduit 132 maybe controlled manually or automatically from a point remote from thepumping system by any of the means well known in the instrumentationart, which need not be elaborated on herein.

If a pressure control conduit 132 is utilized to pressurize compressionchamber .126, a tapered orifice 135 may be incorporated in passage 134to allow for easier communication in the direction from valve bore 77 tocompression chamber 126 than in the opposite direction. This flowrestriction prevents excessive fluid flow from the compression chamberand, therefore, facilitates rapid pressure buildup in the compressionchamber when pressurizing fluid is injected into compression chamber 126through passage 130 to actuate repriming valve 74. However,communication is readily maintained between the inlet bore of the valveand the compression chamber to automatically position the reprimingvalve in response to the pressure in inlet bore 77 As shown in FIGURE 3,the pressure of the liquid in the pumping system which automaticallyactuates the repriming valve need not come only from inlet bore 77. Aseparate, external, system pressure conduit 136 can be connected fromany preselected point in the pumping systerm to transmit the pressure ofthe liquid at that point to compression chamber 126. Thus, one port of apipe T 140 is connected to system pressure conduit 136, a second port ofpipe T 140 is connected to a pressure control conduit 141, whichperforms a function identical to that of pressure control conduit 132 inFIGURE 2, and the third port of the pipe T is connected to a commonconduit 138 which is connected to passage 130 to cover 102.

Valves 142 and 144 are positioned, respectively, in pressure controlconduit 141 and system pressure conduit 136 to selectively communicatepressure control conduit 141 and system pressure conduit 136 withcompression chamber 126. Valves 142 and 144 are shown for purposes ofsimplicity as being manually operated. However, solenoid valves orpressure actuated valves, purchasable on the open market, or any numberof remotely controlled valves known in the instrumentation art could besubstituted.

OPERATION During normal operation the pump is primed prior to startup byfilling the suction well 14 with enough liquid to immerse the firststage impeller 44. The pump is started, and as the liquid is pumped fromthe suction well, the pressure in suction well 14 will drop and drawliquid through a suitable suction line (not shown) connected to inletport 42 into suction well 14 to refill chamber 46. The liquid is drawnfrom chamber 46 in suction well 14 through suction inlet 30 into thefirst pumping stage 32 and is discharged into discharge pipe 24 fromthird pumping stage 36. From the discharge pipe, the liquid entersaccumulating chamber 22 through inlet 52 in lower wall 26 thereof and,after filling the accumulating chamber, passes out through outlet port54, past check valve 56 to a convenient delivery line (also not shown)connected to the outlet port 54 at a point downstream of the check valve56.

During normal pumping conditions, check valve 56 is kept in the openposition by the force of the liquid passing from the accumulatingchamber, and check valve 70 in gas bleed conduit 68 is kept in theclosed position because the pressure in elbow 58 is greater than that insuction Well 14. Repriming valve 74 is kept in the closed positionduring normal pumping conditions because the pressure in compressionchamber 126 exerts a force on upper surface 114 of piston 112 which isgreater than the forces exerted by spring 120 and the pressures onannular and circular surfaces 116 and 118, respectively, and, therefore,holds piston 112 in the lower position to seat valve element 188.Repriming valve 74 is closed to prevent back flow of liquid fromaccumulating chamber 22 to the suction well 14 of the pump.

When the quantity of air and noncondensable vapors in suction well 14are suflicient to drive the level of liquid in storage chamber 46 ofsuction well 14 below the bottom of suction inlet 30, the pump loses itssuction and will fail to discharge fluid through discharge pipe 24. Thepressure in accumulating chamber 22 will drop causing the check valve 56to close. The pressure in inlet bore 77 of repriming valve 74 will alsodrop, reducing the pressure in compression chamber 126 until the forcesexerted by spring 120 and the pressures on surfaces 116 and 118 raisevalve element 108 to open repriming valve 74.

Once open, repriming valve 74 allows a flow of liquid from accumulatingchamber 22 through conduit 72 into suction well 14 for the pump. As theliquid from the accumulating chamber fills the suction well, the gasesor uncondensed vapor in storage chamber 46 of the suction well 14 aredriven towards the top of the suction well 14. Since the discharge checkvalve 56 is closed and liquid is flowing from accumulating chamber 22,the pressure in the accumulating chamber soon drops below the pressureof the gas driven to the top of the suction well 14 causing gas bleedcheck valve 70 in gas bleed conduit 68 to open. The gas from the suctionwell then enters the upper portion of accumulating chamber 22 by way ofelbow 58 and discharge port 54.

When enough liquid to reprime the pump has passed from accumulatingchamber 22 through bypass conduit 72 to storage chamber 46, the pumpwill commence discharging fluid to the accumulating chamber as abovedescribed. The pressure of this fluid will open discharge check valve 56and close repriming valve 74. The pressure of the pump discharge willalso close gas bleed check valve 70 to prevent the gas which has beendriven to the accumulating chamber from returning to the suction well.

As the reprimed pump continues to operate, the liquid in suction well 14is pumped back into and fills accumulating chamber 22 and drives out,through check valve 56, the collected gas and noncondensable vaporswhich entered the accumulating chamber through gas bleed conduit 68. Asthe level of the liquid in accumulating chamber 22 rises, the level ofthe liquid in suction well 14 will drop thereby reducing the pressure insuction well 14 and, once again, liquid will be drawn through inlet 42from the source to which it is connected.

If the increased suction in the suction well 14 does not draw liquid tothe suction well for the pump, the pump will again lose its prime.Consequently, as mentioned above, the pump discharge pressure will againdrop, causing check valve 56 to close and repriming valve 74 and gasbleed check valve 70 to open. The pump will be reprimed; gases andnoncondensable vapors will be driven from the suction well; thedischarge pressure Will increase reversing the setting of valves 56, 70and 74; and, if fluid is drawn into suction Well 14, pumping willcontinue. Otherwise, this repriming cycle will continue until all thegas and noncondensable vapors have been driven from the suction well andthe source being pumped, and sufficient liquid is being drawn into thesuction well for the system to operate.

OTHER FORMS OF THE INVENTION The pumping systems shown in FIGURES 4, 5and 6 are similar to that shown in FIGURE 1. For purposes of simplicity,similar elements of the system shown in FIG- URES 4, 5 and 6 which weredescribed previously in FIG- URE 1 will be similarly numbered.

FIGURE 4 shows a pumping system in which a pressure actuated valve isused as the repriming valve in bypass conduit 72. One such valve is theDomotor control valve, manufactured by the Worthington Controls Company,which is easily purchased on the open market. Pressure actuated valve150 has a valve body 152 and pressure actuator 154 mounted on the valvebody which opens and closes the valve in response to the pressuretransmitted to the pressure actuator through a pressure transmittingconduit 156 from a pressure transmitter 158. The pressure transmitter ismounted to motor housing 18 by a bracket 160 and transmits pressure topressure actuator 154 in relation to the pressure sensed by a pressuresensing element 162 positioned in a pressure fitting 164 disposed nearthe upper end of the accumulating chamber 22. A pressure fluid supplyline 166 having a valve 168 disposed therein is connected to pressuretransmitter 158. A transmitter bypass line 170 having a valve 172disposed therein connects pressure transmitting conduit 156 withpressure fluid supply line 166 at a point upstream of valve 168.

The manner of operation of pressure actuated valve 150 and pressuretransmitter 158 are well known to those skilled in the instrumentationart and need not be elaborated on herein. It should be sufficient tostate that pressure transmitter 158 regulates a pressurized fluidprovided to the pressure transmitter by pressure fluid supply line 166in relation to the pressure sensed by pressure sensing element 162. Whenthe pump loses its prime and the pressure in accumulating chamber 22drops, pressure sensing element 162 will communicate the drop inpressure to pressure transmitter 158 which will regulate the pressure inpressure transmitting conduit 156 to actuate pressure actuated valve 150and start the reprirning cycle. When the pressure in accumulatingchamber 22 returns to the normal operating range, pressure sensingelement 162 will communicate the increased pressure to pressuretransmitter 158 which will regulate pressure actuated valve 150 toprevent additional liquid from flowing through bypass column 72 to thesuction well of the pump.

Valves 168 and 172 in the pressure fluid supply line and the transmitterbypass line, respectively, can be adjusted to selectively communicatepressure transmitting conduit 156 with pressure transmitter 158 andpressure fluid supply line 166 in order to control pressure actuatedvalve 150 by means of pressure sensing element 162 or from a remotepoint. For purposes of simplicity, valves or pressure actuated valves,purchasable on the open market, 168 and 172 are illustrated as beingmanually operated. However, any number of remotely controlled valvesknown in the instrumentation art could be substituted to perform thesame function.

It should be noted that the position of pressure sensing element 162 asshown in FIGURE 4 illustrates only one of many locations in the pumpingsystem where the pressure sensing element could be placed to effectivelymonitor the operation of the pumping system.

FIGURE 5 shows a pumping system in which a solenoid valve 176 is used asthe reprirning valve in bypass conduit 72. One such valve is the ASCOsolenoid valve, manufactured by Automatic Switch Company which is easilypurchasable on the open market. The solenoid valve has a valve body 178and a solenoid 180 mounted on the valve body which opens and closes thevalve in response to the electrical current carried in an electricalline 182 connecting solenoid 180 with a pressure sensitive switch 184.The pressure sensitive switch is mounted to motor housing 18 by bracket160 and controls the current in electrical line 182 in relation to thepressure sensed by pressure sensing element 162 positioned in pressurefitting 164. A power supply line 186 having a switch 188 disposedtherein is connected to pressure actuated switch 184. A pressure switchbypass line 190 having a switch 192 disposed therein connects electricalconnecting line 182 with electrical power supply line 186 at a pointupstream of switch 188.

The manner of operation of solenoid valve 176 and pressure actuatedswitch 184 are Well known to those skilled in the instrumentation artand need not be elaborated on herein. It should be sufiicient to statethat when the pump loses its prime and the pressure in accumulatingchamber '22 drops, pressure sensing element 162 will communicate thedrop in pressure to pressure actuated switch 184 which will control thecurrent in electrical connecting line 182 to actuate solenoid valve 176and start the repriming cycle. Solenoid valve 176 will remain in thereprirning position until pressure sensing element 162 again senses thenormal operating pressure at its location in the pumping system.

Switches 188 and 192 in electrical power supply line 186 and pressureswitch bypass line 190, respectively, can be set to selectivelycommunicate electrical connecting line 182 with pressure actuated switch184 and electrical power supply line 186 in order to control solenoidvalve 176 by means of pressure sensing element 162 or from a remotepoint.

FIGURE 6 shows a pumping system similar to that shown in FIGURE 5 inwhich a liquid level actuated switch 196 controls the position ofsolenoid valve 176. Liquid level actuated switch 196 is mounted to pumpcasing 14 by a bracket 198 and controls the current in electricalconnecting line 208 to solenoid 180 in relation to the level of liquidin suction well 14 as sensed by upper and lower liquid level sensingelements 200 and 202, respectively, mounted in pressure fittings 204 and206 which are disposed in the suction well near the level of first stageimpeller 44 and the bottom of suction inlet 30. A power supply line 210having a switch 214 disposed therein is connected to liquid levelactuated switch 196. A bypass line 212 having a switch 216 disposedtherein connects electrical connecting line 208 with electrical powersupply line 210 at a point before switch 214.

The manner of operation of solenoid bypass valve 176 and liquid levelactuated switch 196 are well known to those skilled in the art and neednot be elaborated on herein. It should be sufficient to state that whenthe level of liquid in suction well 14 drops to the level of lowerliquid level sensing element 202 liquid level actuated switch 196 willcontrol the current in electrical connecting line 208 to actuatesolenoid valve 176 and start the reprirning cycle. When the liquid levelin suction Well 14 rises to the height of upper liquid level sensingelement 200, liquid level actuated switch 196 will actuate solenoidvalve 176, by means of electrical connecting line 208, to prevent theflow of additional liquid from accumulating chamber 22 to suction well14.

Switches 214 and 216, in power supply line 210 and switch bypass line212, can be set to selectively communicate the source of current tosolenoid valve 176 in order to control the solenoid bypass valve bymeans of liquid level sensing elements 200 and 202 or from a pointremote from the pumping system.

Self-priming system using a horizontal pump FIGURE 7 shows aself-priming centrifugal pumping system using a horizontal centrifugalpump 220 connected by a suction inlet line 222 to an inlet storagechamber 224. A discharge line 226 leads from the discharge of thecentrifugal pump to an accumulator chamber 228 disposed above thesuction inlet line. Accumulating chamber 228 has an outlet 230 with acheck valve 232 connected thereto to prevent back flow of fluid into theaccumulating chamber after it has passed the check valve. An air bleedconduit 234 connects suction inlet 222 of centrifugal pump 220 withaccumulating chamber 228. As in the other embodiments of the inventionpreviously described, air bleed conduit 234 has a check valve 236therein to prevent back flow from accumulating chamber 228 to suctioninlet 222 of the pump. A bypass conduit 237 communicates the bottom ofaccumulating chamber 228 with inlet storage chamber 224.

Repriming valve 74 (illustrated in FIGURE 3) is disposed in bypassconduit 237. A system pressure transmitting conduit 238 communicatesreprirning valve 74 with accumulating chamber 228 so that the reprimingvalve is responsive to the pressure of the liquid in accumulatingchamber 228. An external source of pressurizing fluid is also providedby means of a pressurizing conduit 240. Valves 242 and 244 disposed,respectively, in system pressure conduit 238 and pressurizing conduit240, can be adjusted to control reprirning valve 74 by means of systempressure transmitting conduit 238 or from a point remote from thepumping system.

The system shown in FIGURE 7 operates similarly to the system shown inFIGURE 1. When the pump 220 loses its prime during normal pumpingconditions, the pressure in accumulating chamber 228 will drop causingdischarge check valve 232 to close and reprirning valve 74 and gas bleedcheck valve 236 to open. Repriming liquid from accumulating chamber 228enters inlet storage chamber 224 and drives the gases and uncondensedvapors in inlet storage chamber 224 and suction inlet line 222 throughgas bleed bypass 234 into the upper portion of accumulating chamber 228.As the pump discharge from the reprimed pump fills accumulating chamber228, driving the gases therein through check valve 232, the level ofliquid in inlet storage chamber 224 will drop increasing the suctiontherein to draw additional liquid to the inlet storage chamber from thetank (not shown) which is being emptied by pump 220.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, material andarrangements in parts which have been herein described and illustratedin order to explain the nature of the invention may be made by thoseskilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention asexpressed in the appended claims.

It will be further understood that the abstract of the disclosure setforth above is intended to provide a nonlegal technical statement of thecontents of the disclosure in compliance with the Rules of Practice ofthe United States Patent Ofiice and is not intended to limit the scopeof the invention described and claimed herein.

What is claimed is:

1. A self-priming liquid pumping system comprising:

(a) suction well means connected to a source of liquid to be pumped;

(b) pump means for pumping liquid from said suction well means having asuction inlet operatively associated with said suction well means and adischarge outlet;

(c) discharge line means connected to the discharge outlet of said pumpmeans;

(d) a liquid accumulating means in said discharge line means toaccumulate a quantity of liquid discharged from said pump means;

(e) check valve means disposed in said discharge line means downstreamof said accumulating means to prevent backflow of fluid into saidaccumulating means;

(f) gas bleed means communicating said suction Well means with the upperportion of said accumulating means;

(g) valve means in said gas bleed means to prevent backflow through saidgas bleed means from said accumulating means to said suction well means;

(h) a liquid bypass means comprising a conduit communicating the lowerportion of said accumulating means with said suction well means;

(i) repriming valve means in said bypass means disposed remotely fromsaid discharge line means to control a flow of liquid from saidaccumulating means to said suction well means to reprime said pump meansupon actuation of said repriming valve means;

(j) means to actuate said repriming valve means in re sponse topredetermined operating parameters of said pumping system occurring atpreselected points in the pumping system, said means to actuate saidrepriming valve means comprising:

( 1) pressure sensing means disposed at a preselected point in saidpumping system to sense the pressure of the liquid at said preselectedpoint;

(2) transmitting means to receive the pressure sensed by said pressuresensing means and transmitting a pressure signal proportional to thepressure sensed to said repriming valve means; and

(3) said repriming valve means comprising pressure responsive controlmeans to position said repriming valve means in response to the pressuretransmitted by said pressure transmitter means.

2. A self-priming liquid pumping system comprising:

(a) suction well means connected to a source of liquid to be pumped;

(b) pump means for pumping liquid from said suction well means having asuction inlet operatively associated with said suction well means and adischarge outlet;

(c) discharge line means connected to the discharge outlet of said pumpmeans;

(d) a liquid accumulating means in said discharge line means toaccumulate a quantity of liquid discharged from said pump means;

(e) check valve means disposed in said discharge line means downstreamof said accumulating means to prevent backfiow of fluid into saidaccumulating means;

(f) gas bleed means communicating said suction well means with the upperportion of said accumulating means;

(g) valve means in said gas bleed means to prevent backflow through saidgas bleed means from said accumulating means to said suction well means;

(h) a liquid bypass means comprising a conduit communicating the lowerportion of said accumulating means with said suction well means;

(i) repriming valve means in said bypass means disposed remotely fromsaid discharge line means to control a flow of liquid from saidaccumulating means to said suction well means to reprime said pump meansupon actuation of said repriming valve means;

(j) means to actuate said repriming valve means in response topredetermined operating parameters of said pumping system occurring atpreselected points in the pumping system, said actuating meanscomprising:

(1) pressure sensing means disposed at a preselected point in saidpumping sysem to sense the pressure of the liquid at said preselectedpoint;

(2) electrical switch means responsive to pressure communicating saidpressure sensing means with said repriming means;

(3) electrically actuated control means in said repriming valve meanscomprising means operatively asssociated with said electrical switchmeans to position said repriming valve means in response to the pressuresensed by said pressure sensing means.

3. A self-priming liquid pumping system comprising:

(a) suction well means connected to a source of liquid to be pumped;

(b) pump means for pumping liquid from said suction well means having asuction inlet operatively associated with said suction well means and adischarge outlet;

(c) discharge lines means connected to the discharge outlet of said pumpmeans;

(d) a liquid accumulating means in said discharge line means toaccumulate a quantity of liquid discharged from said pump means;

(e) check valve means disposed in said discharge line means downstreamof said accumulating means to prevent backflow of fluid into saidaccumulating means;

(f) gas bleed means communicating said suction well means with the upperportion of said accumulating means;

(g) valve means in said gas bleed means to prevent backflow through saidgas bleed means from said accumulating means to said suction well means;

(h) a liquid bypass means comprising a conduit communicating the lowerportion of said accumulating means with said suction well means;

(i) repriming valve means in said bypass means disposed remotely fromsaid discharge line means to control a flow of liquid from saidaccumulating means to said suction well means to reprime said pump meansupon actuation of said repriming valve means;

(j) means to actuate said repriming valve means in response topredetermined operating parameters of said pumping system occurring atpreselected points in the pumping system, said actuated meanscomprising:

( 1) liquid level sensing means disposed in said suction well means tosense the liquid level therein;

( 2) means communicating said liquid level sensing means to saidrepriming valve means; and

(3) said repriming valve means including control means operativelyassociated with said liquid level sensing means to position saidrepriming valve means in response to the liquid level sensed by saidliquid level sensing means.

4. The combination claimed in claim 3 wherein said control meansnormally position said repriming valve means in the closed position andopen said valve means when the level of liquid sensed by said liquidlevel sensing means drops below a predetermined point.

5. The combination claimed in claim 3 wherein:

(a) said liquid level sensing means comprise electrical switch means;and

(b) said control means for said repriming valve means comprise solenoidmeans to position said repriming valve means.

6. In a pumping system having a suction well with an inlet portconnected to a source of liquid to be pumped, pump means in said suctionwell for pumping liquid therefrom having a suction inlet operativelyassociated with said suction well and a discharge outlet, apparatus toreprime the pumping system comprising:

(a) a liquid accumulating means having an inlet and an outlet connectedto said discharge outlet of said pump means to accumulate a quantity ofpump discharge;

(b) check valve means disposed in the outlet of said accumulating meansto prevent backflow of fluid into said accumulating means;

(c) bleed means in said suction well to bleed gases and noncondensablevapor from said suction well;

(d) a liquid bypass means communicating said suction well with a lowerportion of said accumulating chamber;

(e) pressure actuated repriming valve means in said bypass means tocontrol a flow of liquid from said accumulating means to said suctionwell to reprime said pump, said repriming valve means comprising:

(1) a valve body having an inlet and an outlet;

(2) a valve element operatively disposed in said valve body to controlflow between said inlet and said outlet thereof;

(3) chamber means forming a chamber associated with said valve body;

(4) piston means in said chamber means adapted to position said valveelement;

(5) resilient means connected to said chamber means and said pistonmeans to urge said piston means toward one end of said chamber means andthereby position said valve element with respect to said inlet and saidoutlet;

(6) said piston means comprising:

(A) a first pressure face acted upon by the pressure in said chambermeans;

(B) a second pressure face substantially smaller than said firstpressure face and oppositely facing therefrom;

(C) means sealing said first pressure face from said second pressureface;

(D) balance conduit means communicating liquid from said pumping systemwith said second pressure face to provide a source of pressure to act onsaid piston means in conjunction with said resilient means;

(f) pressurizing means communicating said repriming valve means with apreselected point in said pumping system to supply a source of pressurefluid to actuate said repriming valve.

7. The combination claimed in claim 6 wherein said resilient meansconnected to said chamber means and said piston means comprise springmeans to urge said piston means to position said valve element in anormally open position with respect to said inlet and said outlet ofsaid valve body whereby said repriming valve means will allow flow ofliquid to reprime said pump means when the pressure from saidpressurizing means communicated to said chamber means in said reprimingvalve means drop below a predetermined value.

8. In a pumping system having a suction well with an inlet portconnected to a source of liquid to be pumped, pump means in said suctionwell for pumping liquid therefrom having a suction inlet operativelyassociated with said suction well and a discharge outlet, apparatus toreprime the pumping system comprising:

(a) a liquid accumulating means having an inlet and an outlet connectedto said discharge outlet of said pump means to accumulate a quantity ofpump discharge;

(b) check valve means disposed in the outlet of said accumulating meansto prevent backflow of fluid into said accumulating means;

(c) bleed means in said suction well to bleed gases and noncondensablevapor from said suction Well;

(d) a liquid bypass means communicating said suction well with a lowerportion of said accumulating chamber;

(e) pressure actuated repriming valve means in said bypass means tocontrol a flow of liquid from said accumulating means to said suctionwell to reprime said pump upon actuation of said repriming valve means;

(f) said repriming valve means comprising:

(1) a valve body having an inlet and an outlet;

(2) a valve element operatively disposed in said valve body to controlflow between said inlet and said outlet thereof;

(3) chamber means forming a chamber associated with said valve body;

(4) piston means in said chamber means connected to said valve elementand adapted to position said valve element;

(5) resilient means connected to said chamber means and said pistonmeans to urge said piston means toward one end of said chamber means andthereby position said valve element with respect to said inlet and saidoutlet;

(6) first pressure conduit means connected to said chamber means and 'apreselected point in said pumping system;

(7) second pressure conduit means connected to said chamber means and aremote source of pressure fluid; and

(8) selection means selectively communicating said first pressureconduit means and said second conduit means with said chamber means toselect the pressure fluid to actuate said repriming valve means.

9. The combination claimed in claim 8 wherein said selection meanscomprise flow restriction means in said first pressure conduit means torestrict flow of fluid from said chamber means to said preselected pointin said pumping system.

10. A valve adaptable for use in a self-priming pumping systemcomprising:

(a) a valve body having an inlet and an outlet;

(b) a valve element operatively disposed in said valve body to varycommunication between said inlet and said outlet;

(c) a housing operatively associated with said valve body;

(d) a piston in said housing operatively associated with said valveelement to position said valve element;

(c) said piston and said housing cooperatively associated to define asealed chamber means in said housing, the volume of said sealed chambermeans variable in response to the pressure in said sealed chamber means;

(f) a first conduit communicating the inlet of said valve body with saidsealed chamber means to provide fluid from said inlet of said valve bodyto said sealed chamber means to pressurize said sealed chamber means andthereby exert a force against said piston;

(g) resilient means connected to said piston and said housing to urgesaid piston towards one end of said housing to act in opposition to theforce on said piston exerted by said fluid from said inlet of said valvebody;

(h) a second conduit connected to said sealed chamber means tocommunicate said sealed chamber means with a source of controlledpressure remote therefrom; and

(i) control means operatively associated with said first and secondconduits to control communication between said sealed chamber means andsaid source of controlled pressure remote therefrom to selectivelyaugment and reduce the pressure in said sealed chamber means produced bythe fluid from said inlet of said valve body.

11. The combination claimed in claim 10 wherein said control meansoperatively associated with said first and second conduits comprise:

(a) valve means in said second conduit;

(b) flow restriction means in said first conduit to provide restrictedflow from said sealed chamber means to said inlet of said valve body andprovide unrestricted flow from said inlet of said valve body to saidsealed chamber means.

12. A self-priming liquid pumping system comprising:

(a) suction well means connected to a source of liquid to be pumped;

(b) pump means for pumping liquid from said suction well means having asuction inlet operatively associated with said suction well means and adischarge outlet;

(c) discharge line means connected to the discharge outlet of said pumpmeans;

((1) a liquid accumulating means in said discharge line means toaccumulate a quantity of liquid discharged from said pump means;

(e) check valve means disposed in said discharge line means downstreamof said accumulating means to prevent backflow of fluid into saidaccumulating means;

(f) gas bleed means communicating said suction well means with the upperportion of said accumulating means;

(g) valve means in said gas bleed means to prevent backflow through saidgas bleed means from said accumulating means to said suction well means;

(h) a liquid bypass means communicating said suction well means with thelower portion of said accumulating means;

(i) repriming valve means in said bypass means disposed remotely fromsaid discharge line means to control a flow of liquid from saidaccumulating means to said suction well means to reprime said pump meansupon actuation of said repriming valve means;

(j) means to actuate said repriming valve means in response topredetermined operating parameters of said pumping system occurring atpreselected points in the pumping system; and

(k) means to manually actuate sa-id repriming valve means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,866,064 7/1932 Stratford.2,219,635 10/1940 Ralston. 2,902,940 9/1959 Meyer et al. 3,078,8062/1963 Marlow. 3,211,102 10/ 1965 Keehan. 3,228,343 1/1966 Anton et al.3,276,384 10/ 1966 Boone et al. 3,370,604 2/1968 Napolitano. 3,381,6185/1968 Napolitano.

FOREIGN PATENTS 995,383 10=/1951 France. 401,149 8/ 1924 Germany.636,848 5/ 1950 Great Britain.

HENRY F. RADUAZO, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 137-117

